Ross Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ross Bridge |
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Ross Bridge with church in the background
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| Carries | Motor vehicles |
| Crosses | Macquarie River |
| Locale | Ross, Tasmania,  Australia |
| Heritage status | Registered |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Deck arch bridge |
| Material | Sandstone |
| Number of spans | 3 |
| History | |
| Designer | John Lee Archer |
| Construction begin | 1830 |
| Construction end | 1836 |
The Ross Bridge is a very old and important bridge in the town of Ross. This town is in central Tasmania, Australia. The bridge was finished in July 1836. It crosses the Macquarie River.
Before this bridge, there was an older one built in 1822. It was made of stones without cement and had a road surface of logs and clay. This first bridge had problems and fell apart in 1831.
Building the Ross Bridge
The Ross Bridge is made of sandstone. It was built by convicts. Convicts were people sent to Australia from Britain as a form of punishment. This bridge is the third oldest bridge in Australia that is still used today.
The bridge was designed by an architect named John Lee Archer. Building the new bridge was not easy. There were many challenges, and it took a long time to get started.
The Master Stonemasons
Work on the bridge began in 1830. For a while, not much progress was made. Then, two skilled convict stonemasons, James Colbeck and Daniel Herbert, joined the building team.
These two stonemasons were very important. They worked quickly and carefully. In just 13 months, they finished the bridge. This was amazing, as work had been going on for seven years before they arrived! Daniel Herbert is famous for the detailed carvings you can see along both sides of the bridge.
Opening and Recognition
The Ross Bridge was officially opened on October 21, 1836. The Governor of Tasmania, George Arthur, was there for the opening. The Governor was the leader of the government in Tasmania at that time.
In 1978, the bridge was added to the Register of the National Estate. This means it is recognized as a very important historical place in Australia.
